As figures published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have lately highlighted the potential dangers of farming – Coleg Gwent recently hosted HSE workshops for 300 local farmers in a bid to protect them against serious injury or fatality.
With industrial machinery and unpredictable animals, farming can be a dangerous business. According to figures from HSE, 1999 to 2011 saw 509 deaths in the agricultural industry in Britain overall.
Farmers from across South Wales were invited to attend the free training event at Coleg Gwent’s Usk Campus.
Practical demonstrations at the safety and health awareness day (SHAD) on Coleg Gwent’s working farm focused on workplace transport, machine safety, working at height, handling livestock, safe lifting, and working with chemicals.
Ian Groves Farm Liaison Officer at Usk Campus said: “The event by HSE offered practical advice that could be vital for protecting farmers and their employees.
“As well as giving you the benefit of sound health and safety knowledge, it provided a good opportunity for local farmers to meet and share information.”
